Birding

There are many outstanding birding opportunities to be found within your Charleston County Parks. From Piping Plovers at Folly Beach County Park to Painted Buntings at Palmetto Islands County Park, a wide variety of bird species can be seen within the Charleston County Park system.

One park in particular, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, is noted for its rich bird life. Located in Ravenel, Caw Caw is a birding hotspot for coastal South Carolina. Over 250 species of birds (DOC) have been seen among the many habitats on the Caw Caw property. Prothonotary warblers flash their brilliant yellow in the cypress swamp during spring and summer months, just as swallow-tailed kites soar overhead. Summer also offers the chance to see the colorful painted bunting or the bright blue indigo bunting along the forest edges.

Former rice fields provide year-round feeding grounds for egrets, herons, and ibises. In addition, a variety of waterfowl make Caw Caw their home in the winter.

Birding Programs
Birding programs are offered not only at Caw Caw, but at other CCPRC locations and statewide locations as well! Staying on top of our birding activities is easy:

Sign up for an email newsletter from our Interpretive Naturalist that describes our birding experiences and programs.

Search for programs in our quarterly parks and program guide.

Early Morning Bird Walks

Wednesdays and Saturdays

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. followed by an optional checklist

Caw Caw Interpretive Center

Join us on one of our regular bird walks through many distinct habitats that allow us to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. The cost is only $5 and no pre-registration is required.

Folly Beach Bird Walks

Second Friday of each month

Time and location varies

Program search and register

Birding experts from CCPRC and the Audubon South Carolina explore Folly Beach in this partnership program. The walks start at either Folly Beach County Park or the entrance to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve.

Join us as we explore nearby locations such as the Francis Marion National Forest, Huntington Beach State Park, and the sod farms near Orangeburg.

Additional impromptu birding trips may arise. You can find out about these by signing up for a monthly birding update. Bird images above taken by Cathy Miller and Jeff Mollenhauer. Fees, hours, and operating schedules are subject to change without notice.